Method and system to automatically select data network videos as television shows based on a persona

ABSTRACT

A system includes a television set for displaying a video for a viewer. The television set connects to a persona television system over a data network and sends a request for a television show for a persona to the persona television system. A “persona” includes a character representation of a person other than the viewer, an event, or a group. The persona television system selects a television show based on the persona. The persona television system sends to the television set a show description of the television show. The show description includes video source information about video source such that the television set can obtain television show from video source. In this manner, a data network video is automatically selected as a television show based on a persona and provided to the television set, increasing the ease with which the viewer can identify video choices of interest.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/421,432, filed on Apr. 9, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

This invention relates generally to media, particularly to a system andmethod to automatically select a data network video as a television showbased on a persona.

2. Related Art

Television is among the many media adopting the new digital age. In2009, United States will officially switch to digital televisionbroadcast. Most national and local television stations are alreadybroadcasting digital television in addition to the analog format,anticipating the switch off in 2009.

In addition to digital television broadcast, many television shows andprograms are also distributed in other digital forms, such as DVD's,digital recording through DVR's, over the Internet as downloadable videofiles or streaming videos. Video downloading services examples includeApple's iTunes™, Amazon's Unbox™. Streaming television video web portalsinclude Netflix™, Hulu™, Veoh™, websites of CBS™, ABC™, Disney™, andmany others. Even cable operators such as Comcast™ offer onlinestreaming television videos on their websites, such as Fancast™.

Vice versa, many online videos are showing up on television sets. Forexample, AppleTV™ and other set top boxes can play YouTube™ videos ontelevision sets. A digital television set typically includes a PC-input,allowing a consumer to connect a PC to the television set. The consumercan use the television set similar to a normal monitor, and can watchonline videos from their favorite websites through the PC. The consumercan watch on the television set the traditional television shows as wellas online videos from the Internet.

Mary watches television every night. She enjoys a good two hours oftelevision viewing after dinner every week night. In the past, she wouldcheck the television guide for her favorite television shows and tunedto the proper television channels. Today, she can watch her favoriteshows, current episodes or episode from earlier seasons on hertelevision set. She even finds shows she missed in past few years whenshe was not home. Moreover, she enjoys watching on the television sether favorite French television shows found on YouTube™. Last night aftershe finished her dinner, she prepared a nice cup of tea and leaned backon her couch. She turned on the television. There was not any favoritetelevision show she wanted to see on her cable network. She switched toher AppleTV™ and started thinking what she wanted to see. She flippeddown the available shows. Nothing was particularly interesting. She thenswitched to Netflix™. “Nice old episodes but no thanks,” she mumbled.She switched to YouTube™. “Ok, what should I search?” “I just want torelax. I am not going to search,” she said. She went to Hulu.com. “Ok,what show do I want to see . . . ” After twenty minutes of clicking onthe remote, she gave up. “Oh, well. I guess tonight is not a televisionnight.”

Having a choice is good for consumers. Having too many choices is,however, confusing to consumers. Mary likes an easy evening withsomething showing on the television set. No violence. Good comedy,drama, occasionally minor action. Sports like skiing or tennis is good.Often she reads while watching television. When a comedy is showing andthere is a good joke, she would switch from reading to watching for thenext ten minutes or so to enjoy the good laughs from the comedian.

Mary likes Brooke Shields. Mary especially enjoys Lipstick Jungle, atelevision series in which Shields co-stars. Mary would love to watchthe videos and movies Shields likes. Mary would also like to hear whatother fans of Shields watch. Mary thinks she would likely enjoy similarvideos as the fans.

Tonight Mary also plans to enjoy the evening with herself watching sometelevision. We hope she will find a television show to watch; a showShields would enjoy too.

John watches television as well. John likes sports. His favoriteathletes include basketball player Kobe Bryant and football quarterbackPeyton Manning. John thinks it would be cool to watch similar showsBryant and Manning would watch. John is also a big fan of actor SeanConnery. John has watched all of Connery's movies. John always wonderswhat videos Connery like to see. When John turns on his television setand flips to a channel showing a rerun of Star Trek which does notinterest John, he always questions why the programming networks cannotshow only his favorite television shows.

The above scenarios illustrate the frustrations of viewers whenconfronted with too many video choices without an easy way to identifythose of interest to the viewer. Accordingly, there exists a need toprovide a method and a system to automatically select a data networkvideo as a television show based on a persona.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system includes a television set for displaying a video for a viewer.The television set connects to a persona television system over a datanetwork and sends a request for a television show for a persona to thepersona television system. A “persona” includes a characterrepresentation of a person other than the viewer, i.e., a third party.The persona television system selects a television show based on thepersona. The persona television system sends to the television set ashow description of the television show. The show description includesvideo source information about video source such that the television setcan obtain television show from video source. In this manner, a datanetwork video is automatically selected as a television show based on apersona and provided to the television set, increasing the ease withwhich the viewer can identify video choices of interest.

In one method aspect, the method includes: (a) receiving a request froma television set via a data network, wherein the request comprises apersona name; (b) selecting at least one persona from a persona databasebased on the persona name in the request, wherein each persona in thepersona database comprises a character representation of a person otherthan a viewer of the television set; (c) selecting at least one showdescription from a television show library based on the selectedpersona, wherein each show description in the television show librarycomprises information for a television show; and (d) sending theselected show description to the television set, wherein the selectedshow description comprises information for the television show.

In another method aspect, the method includes: (a) sending a request bya television set to a persona television system via a data network,wherein the request comprises a persona name for a persona, wherein thepersona comprises a character representation of a person other than aviewer of the television set; (b) receiving at least one showdescription from the persona television system in response to therequest, wherein the received show description comprises information fora television show; and (c) obtaining the television show via the datanetwork using the information for the television show in the receivedshow description.

In one computer program product aspect, the computer program productcomprises a computer useable storage medium having a computer readableprogram, wherein the computer readable program when executed on acomputer causes the computer to: (a) receive a request from a televisionset via a data network, wherein the request comprises a persona name;(b) select at least one persona from a persona database based on thepersona name in the request, wherein each persona in the personadatabase comprises a character representation of a person other than aviewer of the television set; (c) select at least one show descriptionfrom a television show library based on the selected persona, whereineach show description in the television show library comprisesinformation for a television show; and (d) send the selected showdescription to the television set, wherein the selected show descriptioncomprises information for the television show.

In another computer program product aspect, the computer program productcomprises a computer useable storage medium having a computer readableprogram, wherein the computer readable program when executed on acomputer causes the computer to: (a) send a request by a television setto a persona television system via a data network, wherein the requestcomprises a persona name for a persona, wherein the persona comprises acharacter representation of a person other than a viewer of thetelevision set; (b) receive at least one show description from thepersona television system in response to the request, wherein thereceived show description comprises information for a television show;and (c) obtain the television show via the data network using theinformation for the television show in the received show description.

In a system aspect, the system comprises: a television set coupled to adata network; and a persona television system coupled to the datanetwork, comprising a computer and a computer useable storage mediumhaving a computer readable program, wherein the computer readableprogram when executed on the computer causes the computer to: receive arequest from the television set via the data network, wherein therequest comprises a persona name; select at least one persona from apersona database coupled to the persona television system based on thepersona name in the request, wherein each persona in the personadatabase comprises a character representation of a person other than aviewer of the television set; select at least one show description froma television show library based on the selected persona, wherein eachshow description in the television show library comprises informationfor a television show; and send the selected show description to thetelevision set via the data network, wherein the selected showdescription comprises information for the television show.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system comprising a television setshowing a persona-based selection of data network television shows.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a persona television system.

FIG. 2 a illustrates examples of persona attributes for a persona.

FIG. 2 b illustrates examples of show attributes for a show description.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a personal television system with aplurality of show descriptions.

FIG. 4 illustrates persona television system selecting a more relevanttelevision show.

FIG. 5 illustrates a hybrid selection wherein the persona televisionsystem includes a human.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method and system for automatically selecting atelevision show. The following description is presented to enable one ofordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is providedin the context of a patent application and its requirements. Variousmodifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied toother embodiments. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited tothe embodiments shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistentwith the principles and features described herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system comprising a television setshowing a persona-based selection of data network television shows. Thesystem comprises a television set 110, which displays a television show121 watched by a viewer 100. The television set 110 obtains thetelevision show 121 from video source 141. The television set 110connects to video source 141 through a data network 130. The televisionset 110 connects to the persona television system 210 over the datanetwork 130. In one embodiment, the television set 110 sends a requestfor a television show for a persona 220 to the persona television system210. The persona television system 210 selects a television show 121based on the persona 220 The persona television system 210 sends to thetelevision set 110 a show description 161 of the television show 121.The show description includes video source information 151. Video sourceinformation 151 includes information about video source 141 such thatthe television set 110 can determine video source 141 and can obtaintelevision show 121 from video source 141.

A “persona”, as used in this specification, includes a characterrepresentation of a person other than the viewer (i.e., a third party),an event, or a group. The persona may include a representation of a realperson, event, or group. The persona may also include a representationof a fictional person, event, or group. The persona is described in moredetail later in this specification.

Viewer 100 is watching a television show 121 on a television set 110. Inone embodiment, television set 110 includes a High Definition Television(HDTV) set. In one embodiment, television set 110 includes a digitalmedia adaptor. In one embodiment, television set 110 includes aset-top-box. In one embodiment, the set-top-box includes a personalcomputer (PC), or a notebook. In one embodiment, television set 110includes a mobile entertainment device such as a smartphone, mobileinternet device (MID) or a netbook. In one embodiment, television set110 includes an all-in-one TV. In one embodiment, television set 110includes a touch sensitive screen.

In one embodiment, television set 110 is located in a living room, afamily room, or a bedroom. In one embodiment, television set 110 islocated in a residential entertainment room. In one embodiment,television set 110 is placed on a low-profile table, or hung on a wall.In one embodiment, television set 110 is located in a restaurant, asports bar, or a shopping mall. In one embodiment, television set 110 islocated in an airport, a hotel lobby, a hotel guestroom, or a casino. Inone embodiment, television set 110 is located over a gas pump in a gasstation. In one embodiment, television set 110 is located in a retailstore, in a bank, a supermarket or a department store. In oneembodiment, television set 110 is located in a reception area of adental office, a clinic, a hospital, or a governmental office. In oneembodiment, television set 110 is located in a ball park, a stadium or apublic place, such as a town-square, subway station, or a street corner.In one embodiment, television set 110 is located in an elevator, abillboard, or a digital kiosk. In one embodiment, television set 110 islocated in a class room, a lecture hall, or a corporate conference room.In one embodiment, television set 110 is located in an airplane, apassenger car, a bus or a train.

Television set 110 obtains television show 121 from video source 141. Inone embodiment, television show 121 is an episode of a televisionseries. In one embodiment, the episode is the current episode from thecurrent season. In one embodiment, the episode is an old episode fromthe current season. In one embodiment, the episode is an old episodefrom an old season. In one embodiment, television show 121 is a movie.In one embodiment, television show 121 is a news segment, an interviewor a presidential debate. In one embodiment, television show 121 is asports event, such as a National Football League (NFL) game, an Olympicstrack and field event, or Miss Universe Pageant. In one embodiment,television show 121 is a documentary, or a city council meetingbroadcast. In one embodiment, television show 121 is an animation, or acartoon animation. In one embodiment, television show 121 is a shortvideo clip, a musical video, or a syndicated video show. In oneembodiment, television show 121 is an advertisement. In one embodiment,television show 121 is an online video such as a YouTube video, a usergenerated video, an online animation such as a Flash animation. In oneembodiment, television show 121 is a video clip such as a movie trailer,a news clip, a clip of another video, an animated GIF image.

Television set 110 connects to video source 141 through a data network130. In one embodiment, data network 130 includes the Internet. In oneembodiment, data network 130 includes an Internet Service Provider (ISP)network. In one embodiment, data network 130 includes a Content DeliveryNetwork (CDN). In one embodiment, data network 130 includes a privatenetwork operated by or for a business, such as a hotel, a multi-tenantcomplex, a gym, a rehabilitation center, a casino, a sports bar, arestaurant, a retail shop, a supermarket, a gas station, a train stationor a business using television to attract or entertain its customers. Inone embodiment, data network 130 includes a home network. In oneembodiment, data network 130 includes a broadband network. In oneembodiment, data network 130 includes an Ethernet. In one embodiment,data network 130 includes a WiFi network. In one embodiment, datanetwork 130 includes a wireless network such as a Wireless Local AreaNetwork (WLAN), a Worldwide Interoperability for Microware Access(WiMax) network, or an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) network. In one embodiment,data network 130 includes a cellular network, such as a 3G network. Inone embodiment, data network 130 includes a digital television networksuch as a cable television network, a satellite television network, oran IPTV network like Verizon's FiOS™ or AT&T's U-Verse™. In oneembodiment, data network 130 includes a digital subscriber line (DSL)network or cable broadband network. In one embodiment, data network 130includes fiber based subscriber broadband network.

In one embodiment, video source 141 is a broadband television network.In one embodiment, video source 141 is based on Internet ProtocolTelevision (IPTV) technologies. In one embodiment, video source 141 isan Internet video portal or online video syndicate. In one embodiment,video source 141 is an online video store. In one embodiment, videosource 141 is an online video portal of a television network. In oneembodiment, video source 141 is an online video portal of a televisionstation. In one embodiment, video source 141 is an on-line video rentalservice. In one embodiment, video source 141 is a web portal. In oneembodiment, video source 141 is an online video portal of a newspaper, anews agency, a sport center, a studio, or a video entertainmentorganization. In one embodiment, video source 141 is an online socialnetworking site. In one embodiment, video source 141 is a home mediacenter, a PC, a cable set-top box, a digital set-top box such as Tivo™,Sling™, or Apple TV™.

Television set 110 obtains television show 121 from video source 141 ina number of ways. In one embodiment, television set 110 obtainstelevision show 121 using a streaming protocol, such as Real TimeMessaging Protocol (RTMP). In one embodiment, television set 110 obtainstelevision show 121 using Adobe's Flash™ or Microsoft's Silverlight™technologies. In one embodiment, television set 110 obtains televisionshow 121 in Moving Pictures Expert Group-2 (MPEG-2) format, MPEG-4format, or H.264 format, Windows Media Video (WMV), QuickTime video, On2VP6™ format. In one embodiment, television set 110 obtains televisionshow 121 using Digital Video Broadcasting Terrestrial (DVB-T) or DigitalVideo Broadcasting Handhelds (DVB-H) technologies. In one embodiment,television set 110 obtains television show 121 using cable televisiontechnologies. In one embodiment, television set 110 obtains televisionshow 121 using Media RSS or Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language(SMIL) technology. In one embodiment, television set 110 downloadstelevision show 121 prior to showing television show 121.

In one embodiment, television set 110 shows television show 121 bysending a request to a persona television system 210. In response to therequest, persona television system 210 selects television show 121 basedon persona 220. Television set 110 connects to persona television system210 over data network 130. In one embodiment, persona television system210 sends to television set 110 show description 161 of television show121. Show description 161 includes video source information 151. Videosource information 151 includes information about video source 141 suchthat television set 110 can determine video source 141 and can obtaintelevision show 121 from video source 141. In one embodiment, videosource information 151 includes a television channel number, or an inputsource of television set 110 such as HDMI-1, RGB, or PC-input. In oneembodiment, video source information 151 includes television show 121title, schedule of when television show 121 is shown, an URL, or a videoidentity for television show 121. Subsequently television set 110obtains video source information 151 from show description 161 and goesto video source 141 to obtain television show 121. In one embodiment,television set 110 includes a web browser 111. Using web browser 111,television set 110 uses the URL of source information 151 to go to videosource 141. In one embodiment, television set 110 includes a videoplayer 112 such as Windows Media Player™, Flash Player™, Quicktime™ orother media player. Based on video player 112, television set 110obtains television show 121. In one embodiment, television set 110downloads television show 121 using web browser 111. In one embodiment,television set 110 downloads television 121 using a file transferprotocol.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a persona television system 210.

Persona television system 210 includes a persona database 242 and atelevision show library 260. Persona database 242 includes at least onepersona 220. In one embodiment, persona 220 represents a person such asan actor, an actress, a director, a writer, an author, a talk show host,a celebrity, a politician, or a teacher. For example, persona 220represents actor Paul Newman, actress Angelina Jolie, director StevenSpielberg, or producer George Lucas. Other examples include celebrityParis Hilton, tennis star Ana Ivanovic, President Barack Obama,astronomer Carl Sagan, or talk show host Oprah Winfrey. In oneembodiment, persona 220 represents a fictional character from a story, amovie, or a book. For example, persona represents Batman, Super Woman orLooney Tunes' Sylvester. Other examples include Mrs. Robinson of themovie “The Graduate”, Santa Claus or Anakin Skywalker. In oneembodiment, persona 220 represents an online avatar which in turn isrepresenting a fictional character. In one embodiment, persona 220represents a character created for a video game such as Spore™ SecondLife™, or Sims™. In one embodiment, the persona 220 changes over timebased on interaction with other personae.

In one embodiment, persona 220 represents a story, a journal, a historicevent, a war, or an incident. For example, persona 220 is based onhistory of “Oregon Trail”. In one example, persona 220 is based on “StarWars”, “Eighty Days around the World”, “Tom Sawyer”, “World War II”, or“Hurricane Katrina”. In one embodiment, persona 220 is based on aculture such as Chinese, Japanese, or Greek. Other examples includeEgyptian, Incan or the Mesopotamian civilization.

Persona 220 includes at least one persona attribute 224 related topersona 220. In one embodiment, persona attribute 224 describes a humancharacter, academic background, favorite subjects, favorite books,socio-economic background, age group, gender, hobbies, locale, orpolitical views. In one embodiment persona attribute 224 includes aword, an adjective, an adverb, a phrase, a common noun or a paragraph oftext. In one embodiment, persona attribute 224 includes a picture, animage, a video clip, a sound, an audio clip, or a music segment.

FIG. 2 a illustrates example persona attributes 224 for a persona 220representing a science fiction character persona 220.

Returning to FIG. 2, in one embodiment, persona 220 includes a personaname 216. Persona television system 210 matches the persona name 215 inthe television show request 264 with the persona name 216 to obtainpersona 220.

Television show library 260 includes at least one show description 161of a television show. Here, show description 161 describes televisionshow 121. A plurality of show descriptions 161 would describe aplurality of corresponding television shows. In one embodiment, showdescription 161 includes title of television show 121. In anotherembodiment, show description 161 includes a description of the story oftelevision show 121, plot, schedule, casts, cast bio, description ofcharacters in television show 121. In one embodiment, show description161 includes television shows related to television show 121. Forexample, show description 161 includes other television shows in thesame series, by the same producer, with similar cast members, or in thesame genre.

In one embodiment, show description 161 includes a show attribute 261.Show attribute 261 can be a word, a phrase, a noun, a common noun, anadjective, a proper noun, a city name, a phrase, a trademark, etc. FIG.2 b illustrates example show attributes 261 of science fictiontelevision show 121. In another embodiment, show description 161includes a picture, an image, a video clip, a sound, an audio clip, or amusic segment.

Persona television system 210 determines if persona 220 matches showdescription 161 by searching television show library 260. In oneembodiment, persona television system 210 compares persona attribute 224with show attribute 261. In one embodiment, persona attribute 224 is anexact match to show attribute 261. For example in FIG. 2 a personaattribute 224 is a noun “war hero”, and in FIG. 2 b show attribute 261is the same noun “war hero”. In another example, persona attribute 224is an age “35” and show attribute 261 is an age group “30's”, referringto the target demographic age group of television show 121. In oneembodiment, persona attribute 224 is “war hero”, and show attribute 261is “Luke Skywalker”. In each of the above examples, persona attribute224 is determined to “match” show attribute 261.

In one embodiment, persona television system 210 includes a dictionary290. In one embodiment, dictionary 290 includes item 292 for showattribute 261. In one embodiment, dictionary 290 includes an item 292 of“Luke Skywalker”, which includes the term “war hero”. Persona televisionsystem 210 checks if show attribute 261 is associated with an item 292in dictionary 290, and compares persona attribute 224 against theassociated item 292. Persona television system 210 determines personaattribute 224 matches show attribute 261 based on the item 292 in thedictionary 290.

For example, item 292 describes the city “San Francisco”. In oneembodiment, item 292 is a word, a term, a phrase, a paragraph, acollection of words, a document, a picture, a video, an audio documentor other form of document. In one embodiment, persona attribute 224 is“city life”. Persona television system 210 matches “city life” againstitem 292, which is a description of city “San Francisco”, and determinespersona attribute 224 matches item 292. Persona television system 210thus determines persona attribute 224 “city life” matches show attribute261 “San Francisco” based on item 292 in the dictionary 290.

In one embodiment, persona attribute 224 and show attribute 261 includepictures. Persona television system 210 performs pattern matchingbetween persona attribute 224 and show attribute 261.

As persona television system 210 connects to television set 110, in oneembodiment, persona television system 210 receives from television set110 a television show request 264. In one embodiment, television showrequest 264 includes persona name 215. Persona television system 210receives persona name 215 and compares persona name 215 against personaname 216 in persona database 242. Persona television system 210 obtainspersona 220 based on persona name 215. Persona television system 210obtains persona attribute 224 from persona 220. Persona television thencompares persona attribute 224 against television show library 260, anddetermines show attribute 261 of show description 161 matches personaattribute 224. Persona television system 210 sends show description 161of television show 121 to television set 110. In one embodiment, showdescription 161 includes video source 141 of television show 121.Persona television system 210 sends video source 141 to television set110.

In one embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 3, television show library 260additionally includes a second show attribute 263 of a second showdescription 163 of a second television show 123. In one embodiment,persona television system 210 determines persona attribute 224 matchesshow attribute 263, and thus show description 163 matches persona 220.In one embodiment, persona television system 210 sends both showdescription 161 and show description 163 to television set 110.Television set 110 plays television show 121 and television show 123. Inone embodiment, persona television system 210 informs television set 110a play order 235 for television show 121 and television show 123.Television set 110 plays according to play order 235. In one embodimentplay order 235 is a play list including television show 121 andtelevision show 123. In one embodiment play order 235 includes a videoon demand list composing of television show 121 and television show 123.Viewer 100 selects television show 123 based on the video on demandlist. In one embodiment, viewer 100 selects television show 123 using aremote control.

In one embodiment, persona television system 210 sends television set110 a television script 350. Script 350 includes instruction to playtelevision show 121 and television show 123. In one embodiment, script350 is encoded in an Extensible Markup Language (XML). In oneembodiment, script 350 is encoded in EMCAScript or Javascript. In oneembodiment, script 350 is encoded in Java. In one embodiment, script 350is encoded in a web scripting language, such as Hypertext MarkupLanguage (HTML). In one embodiment, script 350 is encoded in VisualBasic Script (VBScript).

In one embodiment, persona television system 210 further selects showdescription 161 from show description 163 based on additionalinformation 380. In one embodiment additional information 380 includestime of day, season, event, etc.

In one embodiment, additional information 380 includes viewer 100information. Request from television set 110 includes viewer 100information. Persona television system 210 selects show description 161from show description 163 further based on viewer 100 information.

In one embodiment, viewer 100 information includes geographicinformation, past viewing behavior, subscription information. In oneembodiment, viewer 100 information includes viewer's age, gender,hobbies, political inclination, favorite actors or actresses, etc.

In one embodiment, the additional information 380 includes promotion330. Persona television system 210 selects show description 161 fromtelevision show library 260 further based on promotion 330. In oneembodiment, promotion 330 is for a season, an event, a service, ormerchandise. In one embodiment, promotion 330 includes a promotionattribute 333. Promotion attribute 333 is a word, a term, a phrase, aparagraph of text, an image, or a pattern. Persona television system 210matches promotion attribute 333 against show description 161, similar tothe matching of persona attribute 224 against show description 161.

FIG. 4 illustrates persona system selecting a more relevant televisionshow.

In one embodiment, persona television system 210 selects television show121 and television show 123, both matching persona attribute 224.Persona television system 210 determines television show 121 is morerelevant than television show 123 based on a metric.

In one embodiment, relevance is based on time as a metric. Personatelevision system 210 includes a clock 271 from which persona televisionsystem 210 obtains the current time 272, for example Nov. 18, 2008,12:05 pm. Television show library 260 includes show description 161 fortelevision show 121 wherein show description 161 includes a time ordate, such as a publishing date of television show 121 or a period ofthe year or the day seen in television show 121. Television show library260 includes similar show description 163 for television show 123. Inone embodiment current time 272 is closer to show description 161 thanshow description 163. Persona television system 210 determinestelevision show 121 is more relevant than television show 123. In oneembodiment, current time 272 is close to Thanksgiving, and showdescription 161 includes Thanksgiving as a period of the year.Television show 121 is more relevant than television show 123. In oneembodiment, current time 272 is around noon time, and show description161 includes noon as a period of the day. Television show 121 is morerelevant than television show 123. For example, television show 121 is avideo showing how to make a healthy lunch sandwich; television show 121is a video showing how to prepare a full course dinner. Show description161 indicates a period of the day between 11 am-1 pm; show description163 indicates a period of the day between 5 pm-8 pm. Persona televisionsystem 210 determines that current time 272 matches show description 161and that television show 121 is more relevant than television show 123.

In one embodiment, television show 121 is more relevant when showdescription 161 includes a publishing date later than show description163.

In one embodiment, relevance is based on other information such asdemographic information about viewer 100, location information oftelevision set 110, urgency information of television show library 260.Embodiments of such relevance should be known to those skilled in theart.

In one embodiment, relevance is based on past history of personatelevision system 210. In one embodiment, television show 121 wasselected more recently than television show 123. Persona televisionsystem 210 determines television show 121 is more relevant. In oneembodiment, television show 121 was more frequently selected thantelevision show 123, television show 121 is more relevant. In oneembodiment, television show 121 was watched to completion morefrequently than television show 123, television show 121 is morerelevant. Other historical information such as social interests, socialnetwork interests can also be considered for relevance.

In one embodiment, relevance is based on monetary consideration. In oneembodiment, television show 121 is free, for example show description161 indicates $0 cost, and television show 123 is not free where showdescription 163 indicates a positive cost. Television show 121 is morerelevant than television show 123. In one embodiment, show description161 indicates revenue higher than show description 163. Television show121 is more relevant than television show 123.

In one embodiment, relevance is based on popularity or user rating. Inone embodiment, show description 161 includes a popularity factor oruser rating. For example, show description 161 includes a user rating of5, higher than the user rating of 3 in show description 163. Televisionshow 121 is more relevant than television show 123.

In one embodiment, persona television system 210 may use one or more ofother methods to determine the relevance. The methods may include criticrating, bidding, demographics information, show duration, awards won bytelevision show 121, and video quality.

Upon selecting the more relevant television show, based upon anycombination of metrics described above, the persona television system210 sends the show description for the selected television show to thetelevision set 110. Alternatively, all matching show descriptions aresent to the television set 110 along with their correspondingrelevances.

FIG. 5 illustrates a hybrid selection wherein the persona televisionsystem includes a human.

In one embodiment, persona television system 210 interacts with a humanoperator 390 to select television show 121. In one embodiment personatelevision system 210 includes input and output interactive means 394such as a monitor, a mouse, a touch sensitive screen, a keyboard, anetwork, a web server, or a web browser. Persona television system 210interacts with operator 390 using the input and output interactive means394.

In one embodiment, persona television system 210 presents matchedtelevision show 121 to operator 390. Persona television system 210 asksOperator 390 to confirm the matched television show 121. Operator 390confirms the matched television show 121. Persona television system 210selects television show 121. In one embodiment, persona televisionsystem 210 presents matched television show 121 and television show 123to operator 390. Persona television system 210 asks operator 390 forfurther input. Operator 390 responds with television show 121. Personatelevision system 210 selects television show 121.

In one embodiment, persona television system 210 also presents tooperator 390 show description 161, show description 163, persona 220,persona attribute 224, or any additional relevance criteria. Operator390 confirms or selects television show 121 after reviewing thepresented information.

The invention can take the form of an entirely software embodiment or anembodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In oneembodiment, the invention is implemented in software, which includes butis not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.

Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer programproduct accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable storagemedium providing program code for use by or in connection with acomputer or any instruction execution system. For the purposes of thisdescription, a computer-usable or computer readable storage medium canbe any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, ortransport eh program for use by or in connection with the instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device.

The storage medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus ordevice) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable storagemedium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, aremovable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-onlymemory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Currentexamples of optical disks include compact disk-read only memory(CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards,displays, point devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system eitherdirectly or through intervening I/O controllers.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for automatically selecting a televisionshow, comprising: (a) comparing a persona name in a request for atelevision show against a plurality of persona names in a plurality ofpersonas in a persona database, wherein each persona represents afictional character of a fictional story, wherein each persona changesover time based on interaction with one or more other personas in thepersona database; (b) selecting at least one persona from the personadatabase based on the persona name in the request, the selected personacomprising one or more persona attributes, the one or more personaattributes comprising a first image based on the fictional story; (c)comparing the selected persona with one or more show descriptions in atelevision show library, the one or more show descriptions comprisingone or more show attributes, the one or more show attributes comprisinga second image of a corresponding television show, wherein the comparingcomprises comparing the first image with the second image; and (d)selecting at least one of the show descriptions comprising the one ormore show attributes that comprise the second image matching the firstimage.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected persona furthercomprises one or more persona attributes for the fictional character,wherein the comparing (c) and selecting (d) further comprises: (c1)comparing the one or more persona attributes for the fictional characterin the selected persona with the one or more show attributes in the oneor more show descriptions; and (d1) selecting at least one of the showdescriptions comprising the one or more show attributes that comprisethe second image matching the first image and that matches the one ormore persona attributes for the fictional character in the selectedpersona.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected show descriptioncomprises information for a television show, wherein the method furthercomprises: (e) sending the information for the television show in theselected show description to a television set.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the request further comprises one or more promotions, whereinthe selecting (d) comprises: (d1) selecting the at least one of the showdescriptions comprising the one or more show attributes that comprisethe second image matching the first image and that matches one or moreof the promotions in the request.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein eachshow description in the television show library corresponds to one ormore of the following: an online video; a broadcast television show; ora promotional video.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more ofthe personas in the persona database represents the fictional charactercreated for a video game, wherein the fictional character created forthe video game changes based on interaction with one or more otherfictional characters of the video game according to a plot of the videogame.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the personas inthe persona database represents the fictional character of a video,wherein the fictional character of the video changes based oninteraction with one or more other fictional characters of the videoaccording to a plot of the video game.
 8. A non-transitory computerreadable medium having computer readable program code embodiedtherewith, the computer readable program code configured to: (a) comparea persona name in a request for a television show against a plurality ofpersona names in a plurality of personas in a persona database, whereineach persona represents a fictional character of a fictional story,wherein each persona changes over time based on interaction with one ormore other personas in the persona database; (b) select at least onepersona from the persona database based the persona name in the request,the selected persona comprising one or more persona attributes, the oneor more persona attributes comprising a first image based on thefictional story; (c) compare the selected persona with one or more showdescriptions in a television show library, the one or more showdescriptions comprising one or more show attributes, the one or moreshow attributes comprising a second image of a corresponding televisionshow, wherein the compare comprises a compare of the first image withthe second image; and (d) select at least one of the show descriptionscomprising the one or more show attributes that comprise the secondimage matching the first image.
 9. The medium of claim 8, wherein theselected persona further comprises one or more persona attributes forthe fictional character, wherein the computer readable program codeconfigured to compare (c) and select (d) are further configured to: (c1)compare the one or more persona attributes for the fictional characterin the selected persona with the one or more show attributes in the oneor more show descriptions; and (d1) select at least one of the showdescriptions comprising the one or more show attributes that comprisethe second image matching the first image and that matches the one ormore persona attributes for the fictional character in the selectedpersona.
 10. The medium of claim 8, wherein the selected showdescription comprises information for a television show, wherein thecomputer readable program code is further configured to: (e) send theinformation for the television show in the selected show description toa television set.
 11. The medium of claim 8, wherein the request furthercomprises one or more promotions, wherein the computer readable programcode configured to select (d) is further configured to: (d1) select theat least one of the show descriptions comprising the one or more showattributes that comprise the second image matching the first image andthat matches one or more of the promotions in the request.
 12. Themedium of claim 8, wherein each show description in the television showlibrary corresponds to one or more of the following: an online video; abroadcast television show; or a promotional video.
 13. The medium ofclaim 8, wherein one or more of the personas in the persona databaserepresents the fictional character created for a video game, wherein thefictional character created for the video game changes based oninteraction with one or more other fictional characters of the videogame according to a plot of the video game.
 14. The medium of claim 8,wherein one or more of the personas in the persona database representsthe fictional character of a video, wherein the fictional character ofthe video changes based on interaction with one or more other fictionalcharacters of the video according to a plot of the video.
 15. The mediumof claim 8, wherein each of the one or more show descriptions furthercomprises a plot of a corresponding television show of a series ofshows, wherein the compare (c) and the select (d) comprise: (c1) comparethe selected persona with the plot of the corresponding television showof the series of shows of the one or more show descriptions in thetelevision show library; and (d1) select at least one show descriptionof the one or more show descriptions comprising the plot of thecorresponding television show of the series of shows matching theselected persona and comprising the one or more show attributes thatcomprise the second image matching the first image.
 16. The medium ofclaim 8, wherein each of the one or more show descriptions furthercomprises a plot of a corresponding episode of a television series,wherein the compare (c) and the select (d) comprise: (c1) compare theselected persona with the plot of the corresponding episode of thetelevision series of the one or more show descriptions in the televisionshow library; and (d1) select at least one show description of the oneor more show descriptions comprising the plot of the correspondingepisode of the television series matching the selected persona andcomprising the one or more show attributes that comprise the secondimage matching the first image.
 17. A persona television system,comprising: a computer readable medium having a computer readableprogram code, the computer readable program code configured to: (a)compare a persona name in a request for a television show against aplurality of persona names in a plurality of personas in a personadatabase, wherein each persona represents a fictional character of afictional story, wherein each persona changes over time based oninteraction with other personas in the persona database; (b) select atleast one persona from the persona database based the persona name inthe request, the selected persona comprising one or more personaattributes, the one or more persona attributes comprising a first imagebased on the fictional story; (c) compare the selected persona with oneor more show descriptions in a television show library, the one or moreshow descriptions comprising one or more show attributes, the one ormore show attributes comprising a second image of a correspondingtelevision show, wherein the comparing comprises comparing the firstimage with the second image; and (d) select at least one of the showdescriptions comprising the one or more show attributes that comprisethe second image matching the first image.
 18. The system of claim 17,wherein the selected persona further comprises one or more personaattributes for the fictional character, wherein the computer readableprogram code configured to compare (c) and select (d) are furtherconfigured to: (c1) compare the one or more persona attributes for thefictional character in the selected persona with the one or more showattributes in the one or more show descriptions; and (d1) select atleast one show of the show descriptions comprising the one or more showattributes that comprise the second image matching the first image andthat matches the one or more persona attributes for the fictionalcharacter in the selected persona.
 19. The system of claim 17, whereinthe selected show description comprises information for a televisionshow, wherein the computer readable program code is further configuredto: (e) send the information for the television show in the selectedshow description to a television set.
 20. The system of claim 17,wherein the request further comprises one or more promotions, whereinthe computer readable program code configured to select (d) is furtherconfigured to: (d1) select the at least one of the show descriptionscomprising the one or more show attributes that comprise the secondimage matching the first image and that matches one or more of thepromotions in the request.
 21. The system of claim 17, wherein each showdescription in the television show library corresponds to one or more ofthe following: an online video; a broadcast television show; or apromotional video.
 22. The system of claim 17, wherein one or more ofthe personas in the persona database represents the fictional charactercreated for a video game, wherein the fictional character created forthe video game changes based on interaction with one or more otherfictional characters of the video game according to a plot of the videogame.
 23. The system of claim 17, wherein one or more of the personas inthe persona database represents the fictional character of a video,wherein the fictional character of the video changes based oninteraction with one or more other fictional characters of the videoaccording to a plot of the video.
 24. The method of claim 1, whereineach of the one or more show descriptions further comprises a plot of acorresponding television show of a series of shows, wherein thecomparing (c) and the selecting (d) further comprise: (c1) comparing theselected persona with the plot of the corresponding television show ofthe series of shows of the one or more show descriptions in thetelevision show library; and (d1) selecting at least one showdescription of the one or more show descriptions comprising the plot ofthe corresponding television show of the series of shows matching theselected persona and comprising the one or more show attributes thatcomprise the second image matching the first image.
 25. The method ofclaim 1, wherein each of the one or more show descriptions furthercomprises a plot of a corresponding episode of a television series,wherein the comparing (c) and the selecting (d) comprise: (c1) comparingthe selected persona with the plot of the corresponding episode of thetelevision series of the one or more show descriptions in the televisionshow library; and (d1) selecting at least one show description of theone or more show descriptions comprising the plot of the correspondingepisode of the television series matching the selected persona andcomprising the one or more show attributes that comprise the secondimage matching the first image.
 26. The system of claim 17, wherein eachof the one or more show descriptions further comprises a plot of acorresponding television show of a series of shows, wherein the compare(c) and the select (d) comprise: (c1) compare the selected persona withthe plot of the corresponding television show of the series of shows ofthe one or more show descriptions in the television show library; and(d1) select at least one show description of the one or more showdescriptions comprising the plot of the corresponding television show ofthe series of shows matching the selected persona and comprising the oneor more show attributes that comprise the second image matching thefirst image.
 27. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the one or moreshow descriptions further comprises a plot of a corresponding episode ofa television series, wherein the compare (c) and the select (d)comprise: (c1) compare the selected persona with the plot of thecorresponding episode of the television series of the one or more showdescriptions in the television show library; and (d1) select at leastone show description of the one or more show descriptions comprising theplot of the corresponding episode of the television series matching theselected persona and comprising the one or more show attributes thatcomprise the second image matching the first image.